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US Supports Ghani’s Decision to Reassess Release of Taliban’s Prisoners: Bass

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Last Updated on: October 24, 2022

The U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, John Bass, said on Sunday that the Taliban prisoner swap process suspended following the recent attacks in Kabul and Logar provinces.

“We supported President Ghani’s announcement to release three Taliban prisoners to promote peace – and the decision to reassess their pending transfer following the attacks in Logar and Kabul on November 12 and 13,” Ambassador Bass tweeted.

Bass further said that Washington will work closely with Kabul on next steps.

“Making peace means making hard choices, but it also requires careful review of the conditions on the ground. As strategic partners, we will continue to work closely with the Afghan government on next steps,” he added.

Presidential Spokesman Sediq Sediqqi on Saturday confirmed that Anas Haqqani, Mali Khan and Hafiz Rashid, three members of the Haqqani Network, are still under government custody, because Taliban couldn’t deliver on their promise.

“Taliban’s failure to comply with the conditions had delayed the [prisoners] swap process,” Sediqqi wrote on Twitter.

President Ashraf Ghani’s Spokesman further said that the Afghan government will review the prisoner exchange process, and will act based on the national interests of the country.

However, Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen, a pro-Taliban political analyst, who along with other activists recently visited Taliban’s political leaders, including the group’s Deputy Leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Qatar, told reporters in Kabul that the deal did not happen, because the U.S. insisted on a ceasefire and direct talks with the Afghan government.

According to Mutmaeen, the prisoner exchange process halted at the last minutes after Taliban refused to accept the new conditions.

In a letter given to the political activists, Taliban leaders say, they will not hold negotiations with the Washington from the very beginning, adding that Taliban is only ready to sign the previously discussed agreement.

“After signing the agreement with foreign forces, the intra-Afghan talks would begin, and ceasefire will be part of the agenda,” Shafi Azam, a political activist read the Taliban letter, “The Kabul administration, like other parties, will be a part of the intra-Afghan meeting.”

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Afghanistan signs 30-year deal for marble mining in Daikundi

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The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a 30-year agreement with a private company to extract marble in Daikundi province.

Under the contract, the company will invest AFN 283 million in exploring and mining marble at the “Mesh-Uliya” site, spanning 16.74 square kilometers in central Daikundi.

Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that the marble will be processed domestically before being exported abroad. He added that the Mesh-Uliya project is expected to create around 200 jobs, and the company is committed to supporting local communities through social initiatives.

Economic experts highlight that such investments, especially those focusing on domestic processing, are crucial for job creation, boosting exports, and strengthening the national economy. Analysts further note that the project will improve local infrastructure, expand social services, and enhance the economic and social well-being of Daikundi residents.

Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, efforts to develop Afghanistan’s mining sector have intensified, with multiple contracts signed in areas including cement, copper, iron, and lapis lazuli, involving both domestic and international companies.

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Passenger bus veers off Salang Highway, leaving 5 dead, dozens injured

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A passenger bus veered off the Salang Highway before dawn on Sunday, leaving five people dead and 44 others injured, the Ministry of Public Works said.

According to the ministry, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. in the Shawol area of North Salang when a passenger bus deviated from the main road due to the driver’s negligence.

Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said five passengers were killed and 44 others sustained injuries. He added that personnel from the Salang Maintenance and Protection Directorate promptly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the Khunjān clinic for medical treatment.

The Ministry of Public Works has urged drivers and passengers traveling on the Salang Highway to strictly follow the instructions of on-duty teams, observe traffic regulations, and carry warm clothing, food supplies, and snow chains to prevent similar incidents.

The ministry also noted that heavy snowfall and stormy weather have led to the temporary closure of the highway, while road maintenance teams are continuing snow-clearing operations.

 
 
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Major fire in Mandawi Kabul market contained, extensive losses prevented

Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.

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The Ministry of Interior reported that personnel from the General Directorate of Firefighting and Emergency Response successfully prevented the further spread of a fire at Mandawi market on Kabul early Sunday morning.

Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that the fire destroyed 10 storage facilities and 8 shops. He added that initial losses are estimated at around $700,000, but timely action by firefighting personnel saved property worth approximately $2.2 million.

Qani explained that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He praised the rapid and effective containment operations, which prevented more extensive damage.

Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.

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